Recent regulatory action
We take regulatory action to protect our environment by different means including prosecutions and enforceable undertakings. We also welcome comments and discussion about regulatory decisions we have made
Maules Creek Coal ordered to pay $158,000 for water pollution
Mining company Maules Creek Coal, a subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal, has been convicted and ordered to pay more than $158,000 by the Land and Environment Court. This followed three separate events where sediment laden water escaped from the mine site during heavy rain, and spilled into Back Creek.
On two of these occasions the water that escaped from the mine site also contained polystyrene beads used in mining explosives, despite the EPA previously alerting the company to potential issues with its explosives storage.
EPA Acting Director Regulatory Operations Dr Sandie Jones said businesses like Maules Creek Coal have a responsibility to not harm the environment.
“The mine should have implemented sufficient erosion and sediment controls despite the large amount of rain that fell,” Dr Jones said.
“Following the incident, the EPA directed the company to do a significant clean-up to reduce the risk that the polystyrene beads could break down to form smaller particles or microplastics. That kind of harm to the environment can’t be allowed.”
Sydney Water to pay over $1.2 million for sewage damages
Sydney Water must pay more than $1.2 million in restoration and prevention costs after it discharged more than half a million litres of untreated sewage in two separate incidents.
The first discharge damaged homes and closed beaches at Shellharbour while the second impacted the environment at Grasmere in Sydney’s south west.
The $1.2m costs are the result of two enforceable undertakings with the EPA, each worth $600,000.
The largest overflow occurred in July 2020 when a sewerage pipe, known as a rising main, failed, releasing approximately 430,000 litres of untreated sewage. This flooded Darley St, Shellharbour, flowing into residents’ properties and causing damage.
The overflow also spilled onto nearby beaches, forcing the temporary closure of Shellharbour Beach North and South and the Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool, which had to be drained after sewage entered the pool.
Commitment to Customer Service
Our Executive is committed to continually improving our customer service and this is something we have been talking to stakeholder about at our Roadshows.
We welcome comments and discussion about our regulatory decisions and about the conduct of any of our officers.
Further information and contact details are available on our website if you would like a decision reviewed or if you would like to make a complaint about the conduct of an EPA Officer.
You can also find information here on what to expect after you have contacted us.
Ace Demolition employee fined $270,000 for false waste dockets
Ace Demolition and Excavation Pty Ltd employee Munaf Al-Sarray was fined $270,000 after he pleaded guilty to two offences of supplying false or misleading weighbridge disposal dockets for waste, including asbestos, that was taken to the Suez landfill in Kemps Creek and Dial-a-Dump landfill in Eastern Creek. He was fined $135,00 for each offence by the Land and Environment Court.
The dockets Mr Al-Sarray provided between February and May 2017 stated the waste came from construction sites at Wolli Creek and Zetland, when it originated from sites in Terrey Hills, Westmead, Sydney Olympic Park, Waterloo, Lidcombe, Regents Park, Hurstville, St Peters and Summer Hill.
The Court found that while no direct harm to the environment was caused on this occasion, the offences did cause “regulatory harm” because they created uncertainty if waste was unable to be tracked accurately and reliably.